Flow packer



. 10, 1935. L. L. MACKOWSKI FLOW PACKER Filed April 4, 1932 Lmvffiiiimh.

Patented Dec. 10, 1935 FLOW PACKER Leon L. Mackowski, Bradford, Pa.,assignor to Oil Well Supply Company, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of NewJersey Application April 4, 1932, Serial No. 602,889

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a jet flow packer for oil wells.

A jet flow packer is of special usefulness in assisting the flow of oilupwardly within a well when the gas pressure has become so small thatthe flow has dwindled toward stopping altogether.

In accordance with the well known principles of the air lift, liquid maybe caused to rise in a well if the same is aerated or mixed with tinybubbles of gas so as to decrease the specific gravity of the fluid. Inmany oil wells, a certain amount of gas is available in or adjacent tothe oil bearing sands; and if this gas is properly mixed with the columnof rising oil, flow in accordance with the air lift principles isbrought about.

In accordance with the principles of my invention, gas collecting withinthe casing on the outside of the tubing is employed for aerating therising column of liquid. Inasmuch as the jet flow packer must, on someoccasions, be lowered into a well from which fluid is flowing, I haveprovided a packer which permits gas and oil to discharge from the tubingwhile the packer is being lowered into place. The operator then operatesa vent valve'by removing a detent, or in other suitablemanner; and as aresult of this valve operation, the discharge of gas and oil from thetubing is stopped, thereby starting the flow of fluid upward within thetubing. So long as the gas pressure beneath the packer remains higherthan the necessary aerating pressure, fiow of oil is maintained.

In the accompanying drawing in which, not as limiting my invention butmerely for purposes of illustrating the same, I have shown oneillustrative embodiment which my invention may assume.

Figure 1 is a view principally in elevation of my improved jet flowpacker in position in a well;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional. view on an enlarged scale of the jetflow packer shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional detail view of a part of. thepacker shown in Figure 2 with the sleeve valve in lowered or closedposition;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the packer, the tubing and easing.being shown in section; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the valve guide.

In the embodiment illustrated in thedrawing,

a casing l of conventional construction is shown, this casing formingthe wall of the well. In Figure l, a jet flow packer is shown inposition in the well with its packing element in sealing engagement withthe wall 'of the well. 5 As shown more in detail in Fig. 2, the jet flowpacker includes a body member 9 which is cylindrical in shape, and isprovided adjacent its lower end with an annular groove l0 surroundingvthe body at a slight distance above its bot- 10 tom edge. A packingelement H depends from the body 9 to form a seal between the body 9 andthe casing I. This packing element is, in the form shown, constituted bya sleeve having an annular bead or rim I2 extending inwardly 15 from theupper portion thereof. This annular portion i2 is disposed in the groovel0 when the sleeve is assembled with the bottom of the body 9, and isheld in assembled position by several turns of wire IS. The sleevetapers downwardly and inwardly for a portion of its length, and thenswells outwardly into a bulbous enlargement l4 adapted to peripherallyengage the easing 1. The recurved lower portion of this en-' largement Mis formed with a scalloped lower 25 edge, resulting in a fringe ofinwardly sloped fingers IS. The peculiar formation and shape of thepacking element l l have advantages which will later be explained.

Below the packer is the working barrel IS with which cooperates astanding valve (not shown). When the working barrel has been positionedat the proper level, for instance at the bottom of the well, pressureentering the space between the packing element ll and the tubing willcause the packing 'element to expand, due to the fact that the packingelement is supported at but one end. It is the purpose of the jet flowpacker to promote the flow of oil into the working barrel and up thetubing 40 to the top of the well. This tubing extends upwardly withinthe casing in the customary manner, the portion shown extending upwardlyfrom the packer being indicated by the numeral l8.

A connection l9 is threaded to the lower end of the portion l8.Depending'therefrom is a section of tubing 20 forming a continuation ofthe tubing [8 and connection l9 which functions also as a valve guide.Packing 2| seals the joint between the tubing connection l9 and thevalve guide 20. Aligned with the guide 20 within the packer is a lowersection of tubing 22; and between the sections of tubing 20 and 22 is apartition member 23 into which the upper end of the section 22 isthreaded. This partition memher '23 blocks off the top of the space 24between the packing. element II and the section of tubing 22. In theembodiment shown, this partition member 23 is formed integrally with thebody member 9, although it might be formed separately and hermeticallysealed to the body member 8. It is accordingly apparent that the sectionof tubing 22, the partition member 23, and the sections of tubing 20 andI8 cooperate to form the tubing whose function is to conduct the oilafter flow has been started upwardly in the well.

When the tubing and packer are being lowered into the well, it is quitefrequently desirable to vent the fluid flowing upwardly within thetubing at a point above the packer. As fluid is caused to flow upwardlyin the well, due to the lowering operation, some vent is highlydesirable, if not necessary, in order to make easier the lowering of thetubing and packer. Accordingly, I provide flow openings 26 through thesection of tubing 20; and in order to permit the discharge of such fluidto the outside of the packer, I provide at substantially the same levelone or more openings 21 through the outside shell 28 which joins thebody member 9 to the tubing connection l9. In the embodiment shown,

as previously mentioned, the partition member] 23 is formed integrallywith the body 9; and the shell 28 is threaded onto a reduced portion ofthe partition member 28. Within a chamber 28, enclosed between the shell28 and the section of tubing 20, is housed releasable mechanism forclosing the flow openings 26. The form of releasable mechanism which Iflnd most suitable for the purpose is a sleeve valve 30 slidablevertically on the exterior of the section of tubing 20. A

coil spring 3| urges this sleeve valve downwardly to closed position.

As previously mentioned, it is desirable to permit fluid within thetubing to vent through the flow openings 26 and 21 while the tubing andthe packer are being lowered to operative position within the well. Imake provision for retaining the sleeve valve 30 in the retractedposition shown in Fig. 2 by positioning a control device transversely ofthe tubing at the level of the bottom of the valve 38. Such controldevice should be operable from the surface. While a connection betweensuch control device and the top of the tubing might be maintained whilethe packer was being lowered in the well, I prefer to use as suchcontrol device a frangible disc 83 havin extremities 34 which extendoutwardly beneath the lower rim of the sleeve valve 30. The portion ofthe valve guide 20 which is shown in Fig. 5 pictures the arrangement formounting the frangible discin operative retaining position. Figure 5shows an opening 28 at each side of the valve guide 28, and is a viewtaken nearly at right angles to Figs. 2 and 3. The disc 33 is elongatedso that it may be passed through an opening in the side of the sectionof tubing 20.

Such an opening is shown in Fig. 5 and includes.

packer has been lowered to operative position within the well, a weightor some instrument for imparting a blow is dropped upon the disc 33 so 5as to fracture or otherwise collapse the same. The removal of thecontrol device permits the sleeve valve 38 to close the flow openings28.

As previously explained, the sleeve ll becomes expanded to the positionshown in Fig. 1 when 10 the packer is in operative position within thewell. Accordingly, gas under pressure accumulates within the chamber 24beneath the partition member 23. Check valve controlled passageways 38extend upwardly within the partition member 23. In the embodiment shown,the check valves take the form of balls 39 which prevent flow of fluiddownwardly along the passageways 38. Ports 40 extend through the wall ofthe tubing so as to permit the fluid, such as 20 gas under pressure,which flows upwardly through the check valve controlled passageways 38to enter the tubing. The gas thus entering the tubing aerates the oilflowing upwardly within the tubing and so reduces the specific gravity25 of the oil that it is lifted by the pressure within the well to thesurface.

In Fig. 3 are shown details of the construction of the packer adjacentthe partition member 23. In order that the balls 39 may be inserted,bores 4| are drilled through the partition member from the top thereof.The upper ends of these bores are closed by plugs 42. A valve seat 43rests on top of the partition member 23; and in Fig. 4 this valve seatis shown engaged by the sleeve valve 30, which has been lowered toclosed position by the force of the coil spring 3|. In the embodimentshown, the lower end of the valve guide 20 rests on a shoulder 44 formedby a counter-bore in the upper part of the partition member 23.

It may occur that the packing element H which is of flexible materialmay not pack off the gas initially. In such case, gas may be pumped downoutside of the tubing from a point 45 in the casing head. For admittingthis gas under pressure to the chamber 24, I have provided ports 46through the body 9, these ports being controlled by check valves 41which permit flow inwardly through the ports 48 but pre- 50 ventdischarge outwardly therethrough. The pumping of gas into the chamber 24through the ports 46 causes gas to flow upwardly through the passageways38 so as to discharge through the ports 48 and produce a jetting action.This jetting action starts the flow of oil; and when sufllcient pressurehas accumulated below the packing element to entirely prevent leakage ofgas past the same, the check valves prevent discharge outwardly of fluidthrough the ports In constructing my improved jet flow packer,

I have maintained the inner diameter of the tubing throughoutsufliciently large to permit any object which can be lowered through thetubing I8 to pass through the packer. If at any time,

it is found that the jetting effect obtained by the action of the gasdischarged from the ports 40 is insumcient to maintain the flow of oil,a pum operated by sucker rods may be lowered through the tubing l8 topump the well in the usual man'- ner. In thus lowering the pump andsucker rods, it is not necessary to remove the packer, due to theuniform inner diameter of the tubing throughout.

It will be noted that a packer constructed in accordance with theprinciples of my invention is of assistance in continuing the flow froman oil well after the initial pressure which started the well to flowinghas decreased to such a point that it can no longer raise the fluid. Thejetting action brought about by the flow of gas into the tubing at thepartition member of the tubing assists the natural pressure tending toforce the oil to the surface. Thus the flow of oil is maintained afterthe oil would otherwise cease to flow.

The venting of the tubing during the lowering action is of importance,since it permits the tubing to fill as the packer is lowered, fluidentering the working barrel and passing upwardly within the tubing dueto the vent afiorded by the flow passages 26 and 21. Moreover, any gasaccumulating within the chamber 24 is vented through the passages 38 andports 40, since the latter discharge by way of the tubing and flowopenings 26 ible because of the thinning out of the sleeve, so

that expanding of the lower portion of the sleeve is facilitated.Moreover, the bulbous enlargement of the sleeve causes the packingelement to ride down the walls more readily. The fingel's l5 prevent thebottom of the packing element from collapsing, while permitting fluidsuch as gas pressure to flow upwardly into the chamber 24. Should therebe an obstruction in the casing, the fingers are caused to pushdownwardly into a more straightened position so as to permit the bulbousportion M to be forced inwardly by the obstruction. The fingers I5 tendto maintain the periphery of the depending portion of the sleeve II inoperative engagement with the casing so as to prevent flow upwardlyoutside the packer body 9, while permitting fluid to readily enter thechamber 24 surrounding the tubing 22 by passing between the fingers IS.The building up of pressure within the packing element ll forces thedepending portion of the sleeve into firm sealing engagement with thecasing I.

The opening of uniform diameter which extends through the packer is ofconsiderable importance, since by this construction it .is possible topass through the packer any mechanism which is of such size that it canbe lowered through the tubing. By thus making the opening through thecenter of the packer as large or larger than the inside diameter of thetubing, it is possible to lower a pump through the packer for pumpingoil, after flow by means of the air lift principle has ceased. Moreover,when thus resorting to the use of a pump, it is not necessary to removethe packer; and the latter may be left in the well to seal ofi theportion below the packer. Further advantages of my improved constructionwill be apparent, from the above description, to those skilled in theart to which such constructions pertain.

While I have illustrated and described one specific form of jet flowpacker, it will be understood that the invention is not restricted tothe particular construction and arrangements shown, but may be variouslymodified within the contemplation of the invention and under the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:

, 1. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packingelement, tubing extending through said element, said tubing having aflow opening above said element for free outward flow of fluid and meansoperable to permanently and 10 positively obturate said opening againstflow of fluid therethrough.

2. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, tubing within the packer body, said tubing15 including a partition member closing the upper end of an annularchamber between said packing element and said packer body, said tubinghaving a flow opening placing said annular chamber in communication withthe interior of said tub- 2o ing and an outflow opening placing theinterior of said tubing in communication with the exterior thereof abovesaid partition member, and means for stopping flow through said secondmen tioned flow opening.

3. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, tubing within said packer body having anoutflow opening to the space above said packer, releasable means movableupon release 30 to position for obturating said opening, and a checkvalve controlled flow opening for admitting fluid to the tubing.

4. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination,- a packer body, apacking element on 35 said body, and tubing spaced within and sealed tosaid packer body, said tubing having a flow opening for the admission offluid from the space between said tubing and packing element to theinterior of said tubing and a flow opening above 40 said packer for thedischarge of fluid from the interior of said tubing.

5. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, tubing within said packer body, said 45tubing having a .vent opening above said packing element, and releasablemeans for stopping flow of fluid through said vent opening, said meansincluding a valve and a removable detent for retaining the valve in openposition.

6. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, tubing within said packer body, saidtubing having a fiow opening placing the interior of said tubing incommunication with the 55 exterior thereof, and means for controllingflow along said tubing and through said flow opening, said controllingmeans including a valve 00- operating with said flow opening and afrangible detent for temporarily retaining the valve in 60 openposition. g I

7. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, incombination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, and tubing within said packer body, saidtubing having a partition member closing 65 the top of an annularchamber between said tubing and packing element, said tubing beingprovided with flow openings permitting flow of fluid from said chamberto the interior of said tubing and from the interior of said tubing to70 the exterior thereof above said partition member...

8. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, tubing within said packer body, said.tubing having a partition member defining a gas chamber within packingelement and surrounding said tubing, said tubing having flow openingsfor the discharge of fluid from said chamber into said tubing and fromthe interior of said tubing to the exterior thereof above said partitionmember, and releasable means for stopping such discharge from theinterior to the exterior of the tubing.

9. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body,tubing within the body, said tubing having a flow opening placing theinterior of said tubing in communication with the exterior thereof, anda sleeve valve for closing said flow opening.

10. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a tubingconnection, tubing extending downwardly from said connection, saidtubing being provided with a vent packing for the joint between saidconnection and said tubing, and a sleeve valve slidable on said tubingfor controlling discharge of fluid through said vent.

11. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, tubing within said packer body, saidtubing having a flow opening placing the interior of said tubing incommunication with the exterior thereof, a releasable sleeve valve forclosing said flow opening, and a frangible disc controlling release ofsaid valve to close said flow opening.

12. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, tubing within saidv packer body, said bodyhaving openings for admitting fluid from above said packing element tothe space between said tubing and packer body and said tubing havingopenings for the admission of fluid from said space to the interior ofsaid tubing, and a check valve for preventing return flow out of saidspace through said body opening.

13. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, tubing within and spaced from said packerbody and sealed thereto, said body having flow openings for admittingfluid to the space between said tubing and packer body and openings forthe admission of fluid from the space between said tubing and packerbody to the interior of said tubing and for the discharge of fluid fromsaid tubing above said packer body, a valve controlling such dischargeof fluid from the tubing, and a frangible detent controlling closing ofsaid valve.

14. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, and tubing spaced within and sealed tosaid packer body, said tubing having a flow opening for the admission offluid from the space between said tubing andpacker body to the interiorof said tubing and a flow opening placing the interior of said tubing incommunication with the exterior thereof, above said packer body,releasable means for closing said second mentioned flow opening, saidbody having a check valve controlled opening for admitting fluid to saidspace between said tubing and packer body.

15. In a jet flow packer for oil wells, in combination, a packer body, apacking element on said body, tubing within said packer body, saidtubing having a flow opening placing the interior of said tubing incommunication with the exterior thereof, a sleeve valve slidable on saidtubing for closing said flow opening, and a removable detent for holdingsaid valve temporarily in open position.

LEON L. MACKOWSKI.

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